Part 1: Introduction and Framework

Brian Schwertley’s The Sermon on the Mount: A Reformed Exposition opens with the central importance of this discourse. The Sermon is both famous and misunderstood—often quoted selectively, frequently ignored in practical obedience. Jesus’ message is countercultural, cutting through religious hypocrisy and superficial ethics.

Schwertley stresses that the Sermon is directed primarily to Christ’s disciples, not to general humanity. While crowds heard Him, the ethical and spiritual imperatives—being salt, light, humble, and holy—apply to believers who are regenerated by God’s Spirit. However, the Sermon also has an evangelistic dimension, revealing the impossibility of self-righteousness and pointing to the necessity of grace.

The Sermon’s setting is significant: Matthew highlights Jesus ascending a mountain, paralleling Moses receiving the Law on Sinai. Yet Christ speaks with greater intimacy and authority, revealing not a new law but the true meaning of God’s moral law—a standard that pierces beyond external conformity to the heart’s intentions.

Schwertley dismantles misinterpretations:

  • Liberal theologians have turned the Sermon into a “social gospel”—an ethical manifesto for utopian society, ignoring its connection to the cross and regeneration.
  • Dispensationalists have wrongly relegated it to a future Jewish millennium, claiming it does not apply to the Church.
  • Mystics and moralists have reduced it to a path of self-effort, detaching it from salvation by grace.

Instead, the author affirms the Sermon’s unity: it is a coherent teaching with a beginning, middle, and end—introducing the character of the Kingdom’s citizens, the radical demands of true righteousness, and the necessity of choosing Christ’s narrow way.

Structurally, Schwertley sees three main sections:

  1. Kingdom character & influence (Matt. 5:1–16) – Beatitudes and the call to be salt & light.
  2. True righteousness (Matt. 5:17–7:12) – Jesus’ exposition of the law, internal piety vs. hypocritical religion.
  3. Call to decision (Matt. 7:13–27) – choosing the narrow gate, discerning false prophets, and building on the right foundation.

The Sermon thus sets apart true disciples from the world. It doesn’t merely suggest moral improvements; it reveals the life of the regenerate, rooted in Christ’s saving grace.

Part 2: Beatitudes – Kingdom Character

The Beatitudes introduce the Sermon by describing the blessed condition of those who belong to God’s Kingdom. Each beatitude contains three elements:

  1. The blessing (“Blessed are…”)
  2. The characteristic of the person
  3. The promised reward

Schwertley emphasizes that “blessed” (makarioi) means more than happiness—it denotes a divine favor and objective state of grace, not just a fleeting emotion.

Key insights:

  • The Beatitudes reverse worldly values. While society admires wealth, power, and pride, Jesus calls blessed the poor in spirit, the meek, the persecuted.
  • These qualities are not natural virtues but fruits of regeneration by the Holy Spirit.
  • All disciples share all Beatitudes—they are not optional categories for “elite Christians.”

1. Poor in Spirit

This is foundational. To be poor in spirit is to acknowledge spiritual bankruptcy, total dependence on God’s mercy, and the inability to earn salvation. It rejects pride, self-reliance, and moral self-confidence.

  • It’s NOT about economic poverty itself (which can be as sinful as wealth).
  • It’s the heart posture of the tax collector in Luke 18:13, crying, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.”
  • Such humility leads to receiving the Kingdom of Heaven now—for only the spiritually destitute can cling to Christ’s righteousness.

2. Those Who Mourn

Not mere emotional sadness, but a deep grief over sin, both personal and societal. It is the sorrow of repentance. Those who mourn their sin will be comforted with God’s forgiveness and restoration.

3. The Meek

Meekness is not weakness but controlled strength—a humble, gentle spirit toward others, arising from a right view of self before God. The meek will inherit the earth, a promise that looks to the renewal of creation in Christ.

4. Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness

True disciples passionately long for holiness, not mere external religiosity. This hunger is ongoing—never fully satisfied in this life but increasingly filled through union with Christ.

5. Merciful

Those who have received God’s mercy naturally extend compassion and forgiveness to others. Mercy reflects the Gospel itself—pardoned sinners become channels of God’s grace.

6. Pure in Heart

Purity is not just external morality but inner devotion and integrity before God. Such hearts will see God, experiencing His presence now and ultimately in eternal glory.

7. Peacemakers

Not passive avoiders of conflict, but active reconcilers, seeking peace rooted in truth and righteousness. They are called children of God, reflecting His character.

8. Persecuted for Righteousness’ Sake

Jesus concludes with the paradox that those who truly live out these qualities will face hostility from the world. Yet they are blessed, sharing in the prophets’ sufferings, and their reward in heaven is great.

Thus, the Beatitudes reveal a radical transformation of values—citizens of the Kingdom live for God’s glory, not worldly approval.

Part 2: The Law and True Righteousness

After revealing the character of Kingdom citizens in the Beatitudes, Jesus shifts to their influence—“You are the salt of the earth… the light of the world” (Matt. 5:13–16). Disciples are not hidden; they preserve moral decay like salt and illuminate darkness with the truth of Christ. Their good works, flowing from a transformed heart, bring glory to the Father, not themselves.

Then Jesus addresses a crucial interpretive question: What is His relationship to the Old Testament Law?

“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill” (Matt. 5:17).

Schwertley highlights three key truths:

  1. Christ Fulfills the Law
    • By perfectly obeying it in thought, word, and deed.
    • By fulfilling its ceremonial types and shadows through His sacrificial death.
    • By revealing its true, spiritual meaning, which the Pharisees had distorted.
  2. The Moral Law Remains Binding
    Jesus declares, “Until heaven and earth pass away, not one jot or tittle will pass from the Law” (5:18). While believers are not under the Law for justification, they are still called to obey it as a rule of life. Grace does not abolish holiness—it empowers it.
  3. True Righteousness Surpasses the Pharisees’
    External legalism is insufficient. Jesus demands a deeper righteousness—not mere ritual conformity, but heart-level obedience.

This sets the stage for six “antitheses” (Matt. 5:21–48), where Jesus contrasts the shallow interpretations of the scribes and Pharisees with the true intent of God’s Law.

Six Antitheses – The Deep Demands of God’s Law

1. Anger and Murder (Matt. 5:21–26)

The Pharisees limited the sixth commandment to physical murder. Jesus reveals it extends to anger, hatred, and insulting words. Unreconciled anger jeopardizes one’s soul. True disciples seek reconciliation quickly, reflecting God’s mercy.

2. Lust and Adultery (Matt. 5:27–30)

Similarly, adultery is not just an outward act but begins in the heart’s lustful gaze. Jesus uses hyperbolic language—pluck out your eye, cut off your hand—to emphasize the radical warfare believers must wage against sin.

3. Marriage and Divorce (Matt. 5:31–32)

The Pharisees permitted easy divorce. Jesus restores God’s original intent: marriage is sacred and permanent. Divorce apart from sexual immorality leads to adultery, highlighting the seriousness of covenant faithfulness.

4. Oaths and Integrity (Matt. 5:33–37)

Religious leaders created loopholes with elaborate oath formulas. Jesus teaches that His disciples’ simple word should be trustworthy—“Let your yes be yes, and your no be no.” God’s people must reflect His truthfulness.

5. Retaliation (Matt. 5:38–42)

The Law’s “eye for an eye” was meant for civil justice, but the Pharisees used it to justify personal revenge. Jesus calls His followers to radical non-retaliation and a willingness to suffer loss rather than perpetuate cycles of hatred.

6. Love for Enemies (Matt. 5:43–48)

The Pharisees taught, “Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” Jesus reveals the perfection of God’s love—He shows kindness to the just and unjust alike. Disciples must love, pray for, and bless even their enemies, reflecting their Father’s mercy.

This climaxes with Jesus’ stunning command:

“Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (5:48).

Here “perfect” means whole, mature, undivided in devotion. The call is to imitate God’s character, not to achieve sinless perfection in this life but to pursue a complete love and integrity empowered by grace.

True Piety vs. Hypocritical Religion (Matthew 6:1–18)

Next, Jesus addresses acts of righteousness—giving, prayer, fasting. The Pharisees practiced these publicly to gain human approval. Jesus warns:

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before others to be seen by them.”

Key principles:

  • Giving (6:1–4)
    True generosity is quiet and humble, seeking God’s reward, not man’s applause.
  • Prayer (6:5–15)
    Hypocrites pray for show; pagans babble with empty words. True prayer is sincere, intimate, and God-centered. Jesus provides the Lord’s Prayer, a model focusing on God’s name, kingdom, and will before personal needs.
    • Forgiveness is emphasized: those who refuse to forgive others reveal hearts untouched by grace.
  • Fasting (6:16–18)
    Fasting should not be gloomy or for display. God sees the secret devotion of the heart.

This section reveals that Kingdom piety is inward, relational, and God-focused, unlike the outward religiosity of hypocrites.

Kingdom Priorities: Trust and Treasure (Matthew 6:19–34)

Jesus moves to where disciples place their trust:

  • Treasure in Heaven vs. Earth (6:19–21)
    Earthly wealth is temporary and vulnerable. True disciples invest in eternal treasures, for “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
  • A Healthy Eye (6:22–23)
    The “eye” symbolizes spiritual focus. If it is clear (fixed on God), the whole person is filled with light. If clouded by greed and worldliness, darkness reigns within.
  • Serving Two Masters (6:24)
    You cannot serve both God and money—loyalty will always divide.
  • Freedom from Anxiety (6:25–34)
    Worry reveals distrust in the Father’s care. Birds and lilies are cared for by God; His children are of greater value. Instead of anxious striving, disciples seek first the Kingdom and God’s righteousness, trusting Him to provide all they need.

This section emphasizes single-minded devotion to God. True disciples trust their Father’s provision, freeing them from the bondage of greed, anxiety, and materialism.

Part 3: Kingdom Relationships, Final Warnings, and the Call to Decision

Having unveiled the inner life of true disciples, Jesus concludes the Sermon with a series of searching tests that separate authentic followers from hypocrites. This final section (Matthew 7:1–27) presses His audience to a decisive choice—the narrow way of life or the broad way of destruction.

Judging Others Rightly (Matthew 7:1–6)

“Judge not, that you be not judged.”

This verse is widely misunderstood. Jesus is not prohibiting all moral discernment (elsewhere He commands righteous judgment, John 7:24). Instead, He condemns:

  • Hypocritical judgment – pointing out others’ faults while ignoring one’s own greater sin (“the log in your own eye”).
  • Self-righteous, harsh criticism motivated by pride rather than love.

Disciples must first examine themselves humbly, then they can help others with clarity. Jesus also teaches discernment in dealing with hardened rejecters of truth (“Do not give what is holy to dogs…”), showing that not all situations require endless debate or exposure to mockery.

Persistent Prayer and the Father’s Goodness (Matthew 7:7–11)

True disciples depend continually on God’s grace:

  • “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened.”
  • This is a call to persistent, trusting prayer, not demanding God on our terms but seeking His will.

Jesus appeals to the analogy of earthly fathers: if sinful parents give good gifts, how much more will the heavenly Father give what is good to those who ask Him?

The Golden Rule (Matthew 7:12)

This single principle summarizes the entire ethical teaching of the Law and Prophets:

“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you.”

This positive, proactive love goes beyond merely avoiding harm—it seeks the good of others, reflecting God’s own goodness.

Two Gates, Two Roads (Matthew 7:13–14)

Here begins the final call to decision:

  • The Narrow Gate – leading to life, but entered by few. It represents self-denial, repentance, and submission to Christ.
  • The Broad Road – easy, popular, and leading to destruction.

Jesus warns that true discipleship is costly and unpopular, requiring a deliberate choice.

Beware of False Prophets (Matthew 7:15–20)

Jesus warns against teachers who appear outwardly harmless (“in sheep’s clothing”) but inwardly are ravenous wolves. How can they be recognized?

  • By their fruit—their teaching, their character, and the results in people’s lives.
  • A bad tree cannot bear good fruit, meaning corrupt doctrine and hypocrisy always reveal themselves over time.

This test shows the danger of shallow spiritual appearances and the need for vigilance in the Church.

True vs. False Disciples (Matthew 7:21–23)

Perhaps the most sobering words of the Sermon:

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father.”
  • Verbal profession (“Lord, Lord”) is not enough.
  • Even miraculous works—prophecy, exorcism, wonders—do not guarantee salvation.

What matters is knowing Christ personally and obeying Him. Jesus will say to false disciples: “I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness.”

This warns against nominal Christianity and empty religiosity. True faith always produces obedience.

Two Foundations (Matthew 7:24–27)

The Sermon ends with a vivid parable:

  • The Wise Builder hears Jesus’ words and acts on them. His life is like a house built on rock—secure against storms.
  • The Foolish Builder hears but does not obey. His house, built on sand, collapses in ruin.

This image emphasizes that:

  1. Hearing alone is not enough; obedience is the evidence of true faith.
  2. Life’s storms (trials, judgment, death) reveal what foundation we have built upon.
  3. Only those anchored in Christ survive the ultimate judgment.

The People’s Response (Matthew 7:28–29)

The Sermon concludes with a note on its astonishing authority. Unlike the scribes, who relied on human tradition, Jesus spoke as the divine Lawgiver Himself, demanding total allegiance.

Theological Themes and Practical Applications

Schwertley draws out several overarching lessons:

  1. The Sermon drives us to grace.
    • The ethical demands are impossible apart from regeneration.
    • It reveals the depth of sin, leading us to Christ as the only hope of true righteousness.
  2. It defines the Kingdom life.
    • Kingdom citizens are marked by humility, mercy, purity, and love.
    • They live as salt and light, distinct from the world.
  3. It warns against counterfeit religion.
    • Outward piety, religious works, and even miraculous power are not substitutes for heart-level obedience and genuine faith.
  4. It calls for a radical decision.
    • Jesus leaves no neutral ground—His words demand either wholehearted obedience or face the ruin of rejection.

Concluding Reflections

The Sermon on the Mount is not merely an ethical code but a portrait of the new life in Christ. It is both comforting and convicting:

  • Comforting because it shows the blessedness of life under God’s reign, the assurance of the Father’s care, and the promise of eternal reward.
  • Convicting because it exposes hypocrisy, reveals our heart’s corruption, and calls us to abandon self-righteousness.

Schwertley emphasizes that the Sermon is not for the world at large, but for those who have entered the Kingdom through faith in Jesus. It shows what it means to be truly transformed, to live with God as Father, and to reflect the character of Christ in a hostile world.

How to Respond?

  1. Examine Yourself
    • Are you poor in spirit? Do you truly mourn over sin? Is there evidence of Kingdom righteousness in your life?
  2. Trust Christ Alone
    • The Sermon shows that external religion cannot save. Only Christ’s blood and righteousness can make one acceptable before God.
  3. Live as a Disciple
    • Having received grace, strive to live out the Beatitudes, Kingdom ethics, and obedience not to earn salvation, but as the fruit of a transformed heart.
  4. Choose the Narrow Way
    • Reject the broad path of easy-believism, cheap grace, and worldly compromise. Build your life on the solid rock of Christ’s words.

Final Takeaway

The Sermon on the Mount is both law and gospel: it reveals God’s holy standard, drives us to repentance, and points us to the perfect obedience of Jesus, who alone fulfilled the Law on our behalf. It calls believers to reflect His Kingdom life, empowered by the Spirit, as they await the fullness of His reign.

When understood rightly, it is not a list of burdens but a description of the blessed life—a foretaste of the coming Kingdom.